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Cited by 296Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumMaternal and Perinatal Health InterventionsMaternal and Neonatal Healthcare

Coping during pregnancy: a systematic review and recommendations

Open access
Guardino, Christine M., Dunkel Schetter, Christine·2014·Health Psychology Review
DOI 10.1080/17437199.2012.752659PMC PMC3904449
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Abstract

Extensive evidence documents that prenatal maternal stress predicts a variety of adverse physical and psychological health outcomes for the mother and baby. However, the importance of the ways that women cope with stress during pregnancy is less clear. We conducted a systematic review of the English-language literature on coping behaviours and coping styles in pregnancy using PsycInfo and PubMed to identify 45 cross-sectional and longitudinal studies involving 16,060 participants published between January 1990 and June 2012. Although results were often inconsistent across studies, the literature provides some evidence that avoidant coping behaviours or styles and poor coping skills in general are associated with postpartum depression, preterm birth and infant development. Variability in study methods including differences in sample characteristics, timing of assessments, outcome variables and measures of coping styles or behaviours may explain the lack of consistent associations. To advance the scientific study of coping in pregnancy, we call attention to the need for a priori hypotheses and greater use of pregnancy-specific, daily process, and skills-based approaches. There is promise in continuing this area of research, particularly in the possible translation of consistent findings to effective interventions, but only if the conceptual basis and methodological quality of research improve.

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  • High-risk pregnancy induces high levels of stress to the pregnant person and her loved ones, impacting family, marital, financial, and social spheres.

    “High-risk pregnancy induces high levels of stress to the pregnant person and her loved ones, impacting the family, marital, financial, and social spheres [10].”

    From Implementation of a mental health promotion intervention in a high-risk pregnancy unit: the “Ombrelles” program (2025) · cites this paper as [10]

    The Abstract says pregnancy can produce high stress for expectant mothers and requires familial and financial adjustments. The Pregnancy-Specific Considerations section also discusses medical risk conditions and partners’ roles in coping, but it does not establish that high-risk pregnancy causes high stress in loved ones or impacts all the listed spheres. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Carver CS Contrada R Baum A 2011 Coping Handbook of Stress Science: Biology, Psychology, and Health 221 230 New York Springer
  2. Folkman S Lazarus RS 1988 Manual for the Ways of Coping Questionnaire Palo Alto, CA Mind Garden Inc. for Consulting Psychologists Press

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Authors
Guardino, C. M., & Dunkel Schetter, C.
Affiliations
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
  • Department of Psychology, University of California, 1285A Franz Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Corresponding author
Guardino, Christine M.
ORCID
Guardino, Christine M.
Venue
Health Psychology Review
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2013-01-08
Volume
8
Issue
1
Pages
70-94
ISSN
  • 1743-7199 (ISSN-L)
  • 1743-7202
DOI
10.1080/17437199.2012.752659
PMC
PMC3904449
OpenAlex
W2020933184
Cited by
296
References
149
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 35 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 5
FWCI
1.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Health Psychology Review (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (MH15750, T32MH015750)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
Keywords
maternal stress, prenatal stress, avoidance coping, coping styles, postpartum depression, preterm birth, infant development
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Female, Humans, Pregnancy, Prenatal Care, Stress, Psychological, Depression, Postpartum, Pregnant Women, Pregnant People

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